Cypress in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Cypress Police Memorial

Sergant Donald J. Sowma

— April 14, 1932 - November 19, 1976 —

Cypress Police Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 9, 2022

1. Cypress Police Memorial

Inscription. This Police Memorial is dedicated to the Cypress Police Officers who gave their lives in the line of duty protecting the citizens of Cypress, May their memory and sacrifice never be forgotten.

Sergeant Donald J. Sowma
April 14, 1932 - November 19, 1976

In the early morning hours of November 19, 1976, Cypress Police Sergeant Donald Sowma responded to a report of an intrusion alarm at a local business complex. While checking the interior of the building, Sergeant Sowma was shot to death by an armed burglar who had secreted himself inside the building. Sergeant Donald Sowma was the first Cypress Police Officer to be killed in the line of duty.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is April 14, 1932.

Location. 33° 49.534′ N, 118° 2.399′ W. Memorial is in Cypress, California, in Orange County. It can be reached from Orange Avenue. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Cypress CA 90630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Challenger Crew (within shouting distance of this marker); The Freedom Tree (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); “Big Red Cars” (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named “Big Red Cars”

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(approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named “Big Red Cars” (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named “Big Red Cars” (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named “Big Red Cars” (approx. 1.8 miles away); Los Alamitos Sugar Company and Town's Founding (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cypress.

Other markers no longer nearby. “Big Red Cars” (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Carson Street Landscaping (was approx. 1.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 9, 2022

2. Cypress Police Memorial

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 9, 2022

3. Cypress Police Memorial

Marker is at the base of the closest flagpole.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 10, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.